2025 Antioquia Cessna 402C crash
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_FL360aero_(fl360aero)_X_-_Google_Chrome_1_11_2025_11_26_12_AM.png) HK-2522, the aircraft involved in the accident in 2024 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | January 8, 2025 |
| Summary | Crashed into a mountainside, under investigation |
| Site | near Urrao, Antioquia Department, Colombia |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 402C |
| Operator | Pacífica de Aviación |
| Registration | HK-2522 |
| Flight origin | Juradó Airport, Juradó, Colombia |
| Destination | Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, Medellín, Colombia |
| Occupants | 10 |
| Passengers | 8 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 10 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On January 8, 2025, a Cessna 402C operated by Pacífica de Aviación, carrying 10 people, flying from Juradó Airport, Colombia to Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, Colombia crashed, killing all 8 passengers and 2 crew members on board. The aircraft crashed into a wooden mountainside and was found by a helicopter the next day on January 9, 2025.[1] This currently remains the deadliest aviation accident of 2025.[citation needed]
Aircraft
[edit]The aircraft involved was a Cessna 402C, a twin-engine light aircraft designed for regional air travel.[citation needed] Registered as HK-2522, it was operated by Pacífica de Aviación, a regional airline based at Medellín’s Olaya Herrera Airport.[citation needed] Additionally, its serial number was C402C0322.[citation needed]
Accident
[edit]The flight departed from Juradó on January 8, 2025, bound for Medellín’s Olaya Herrera Airport. For the flight, the plane had 2 pilots in the cockpit and 8 passengers in the cabin of the aircraft. At approximately 5:43 PM local time, air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft between the towns of Urrao and Betulia. The aircraft was reported missing after failing to arrive at its scheduled time.[2][3]
Search and rescue operations were quickly initiated but were delayed by darkness and adverse weather conditions, leading to a suspension of efforts overnight. The following morning, signals from the aircraft’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) helped narrow the search area to approximately 40 square kilometers. In the afternoon, a search helicopter located the wreckage in a densely forested, mountainous region within the jurisdiction of Urrao, Antioquia.[3][4][5][6]
There were no survivors among the ten occupants. The challenging terrain and poor weather conditions complicated both the search efforts and the subsequent recovery operations.[5][6]
Investigation
[edit]The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) has launched an investigation into the accident. The Accident Investigation Directorate is leading the inquiry to determine the causes of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine factors such as weather conditions, aircraft maintenance records, pilot experience, and flight data to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.[3]
As of now, no preliminary findings have been released, and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities have emphasized the complexity of the investigation due to the difficult-to-access crash site and the need for meticulous analysis of the recovered evidence.[4]
Aftermath
[edit]In the wake of the accident, recovery teams comprising personnel from Aerocivil, the Colombian Air Force, and local authorities have been working to retrieve the victims' bodies and secure the crash site. The operation has been very hard due to the remote location and challenging environmental conditions.[7][4]
Pacífica de Aviación has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and has pledged full cooperation with the investigative authorities. The airline has also initiated internal reviews to assess safety protocols and support mechanisms for the affected families.[3][5]
Reactions
[edit]The Governor of Antioquia, Andrés Rendón, expressed sadness over the tragedy, saying "All of Antioquia shares in the grief of their families; we stand with them and hope that God grants them peace in this difficult time." He also noted the mobilization of all available resources in the hope of finding survivors.[3]
The broader aviation community in Colombia has been affected by the accident, prompting discussions on enhancing safety measures for regional flights, particularly those operating in challenging terrains and variable weather conditions. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to conducting a thorough investigation to prevent future occurrences.[4][3][2]
References
[edit]- ^ Missing plane with 10 onboard is found crashed in forest in Colombia. Retrieved 11 January 2025 – via www.newsflare.com.
- ^ a b Robles, Carlos (9 January 2025). "Plane carrying 10 people goes missing in Colombia". BNO News. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fatal Cessna 402 Accident: Details of the Crash in Urrao, Colombia". Aviacionline. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Tragedy in Colombia: helicopter locates plane wreck with 10 on board". www.avionews.it. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Plane carrying 10 people goes missing in Colombia". Ground News. 11 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Hallan los restos de avioneta extraviada en Colombia; empiezan recuperación de cuerpos de 10 personas que iban a bordo". KION546 (in Spanish). 10 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ Missing plane with 10 onboard is found crashed in forest in Colombia. Retrieved 11 January 2025 – via www.newsflare.com.